Mavericks have a hometown prospect they shouldn't overlook in the NBA Draft

The Dallas Mavericks are one of nine teams with three picks in next month’s NBA Draft, giving Dallas flexibility to address multiple needs across the roster. While the latter of the Mavericks’ two first-round selections may not carry the same weight as No. 9 overall, it remains an important asset, particularly if hometown talent Zuby Ejiofor is available when Dallas is on the clock.

He met with the Mavericks while he was at the NBA Combine last week, and he already has a workout scheduled with them as well. These are both good signs when thinking about the potential that Dallas takes a chance on him in the draft. With the Mavs needing a small-ball five to complement their frontcourt, he's the type of prospect they can't afford to pass on when they're picking 30th overall.

Zuby Ejiofor's hometown roots and strong collegiate production

Ejiofor was born in the nearby Dallas suburb of Garland and attended Garland High School, where he averaged 21.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game as a senior while earning four-star recruit status. His production eventually led to a commitment to the Kansas Jayhawks.

However, after an uneventful freshman season at Kansas, where he averaged just 5.2 minutes per game, Ejiofor transferred to St. John's to play for Rick Pitino. His role increased slightly as a sophomore, averaging 11.3 minutes per contest, before breaking out as a junior with 14.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game for a 31-win Red Storm squad.

Then came his standout senior campaign, during which Ejiofor led St. John's in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks. He averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game while helping the Red Storm win the Big East and advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

Following his standout junior and senior seasons, Ejiofor has firmly put himself on the NBA radar. He’s widely projected as a late first or early second-round pick and further boosted his stock at the NBA Combine with impressive measurements, strong athletic testing, and solid shooting numbers.

Ejiofor's NBA projection and fit in Dallas

Ejiofor measured 6-foot-7.5 at the NBA Combine, making him slightly undersized for a traditional power forward role. However, he also weighed in at 245 pounds while posting a 7-foot-2 wingspan and an 8-foot-11 standing reach, easing some concerns about his height limitations. As a result, Ejiofor projects as an NBA-caliber power forward with intriguing small-ball center potential — two roles that could offer valuable versatility for the Mavericks.

The Mavericks don’t currently have a true small-ball center option, instead relying on the trio of Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and Moussa Cisse, all of whom profile as traditional centers. However, when Jason Kidd deployed the 6-foot-7 P.J. Washington at center, it unlocked a different dimension for both Washington and Dallas. While the Mavericks weren’t necessarily better overall in those lineups, their offense became noticeably more fluid thanks to the added spacing.

Ejiofor isn’t quite on par with Washington as a shooter. However, he still knocked down 18 triples at a 30.5 percent clip at St. John's while shooting north of 70 percent from the free-throw line, offering a glimpse into his untapped potential as a floor spacer.

Moreover, Ejiofor converted more than half of his spot-up and off-the-dribble three-point attempts at the NBA Combine. His inside-out versatility would be a welcome addition in Dallas, whether alongside Cooper Flagg at power forward or as a small-ball five.

Lastly, Ejiofor has Nigerian heritage, as both his parents are of Nigerian descent. Though he was born in Texas, that background adds another subtle layer of familiarity with the new Dallas leadership under team president Masai Ujiri.

As a homegrown product who fills a position of need, Ejiofor would be a savvy selection with the 30th overall pick… that is, if he’s still available. The Mavericks are widely expected to target a guard with their first first-round pick, which could make a player like Ejiofor an even more intriguing option later in the draft.

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